Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER.
Three faces, two olive-skinned and tanned from the summer past, the
other pale and drawn, stared glumly at each other. At the age of
sixteen, they had barely been apart for more than a few days since the
age of six. Closer than sisters, these friends could almost read each
other’s’ minds.
“We can write” said Bibi. “And maybe visit one day? My mother says
Uncle Fred and Auntie Til are going to Australia too. Maybe I can
come too?” “They’ll never let you” said Laila with a grin. “You’re
much too wild to be let loose without a husband”. Yasmeen laughed
along, happy to have a brief pause from the sadness. “Excuse me
girls, you both know perfectly well that I’ll be the first one
married… Danny has already asked papa… so I’ll be the one to visit
first!”
Laila sighed. It was all right for them. They still had each other.
She looked over at her parents, nervously checking and rechecking
their papers. Ever since her sister Rafi and her husband had
resettled in Melbourne, Australia, the plans had been in motion to
follow them. Now Laila was to miss her final year of school just so
her mother could be near her precious first born. The boys didn’t
care… five brothers and all of them useless, in Laila’s opinion
anyway. But she had plans. Sister Aggie had already written to three
universities, and she had been sure to get in to study law. If only
they could have waited… just a few more months! But no. They were
all on their way to Australia, and she simply could not find a way out
of it. Australia! Nobody knew anything about Australia. Stupid John
and his stupid plans. If he and Rafi had gone to America like she’d
suggested, well, things could have really been exciting. Imagine,
Harvard Law School! But no.
She’d even considered accepting Ahmet’s proposal – not that it was
much of an offer. That wouldn’t have gotten her any closer to law
school, she knew that. Still, mother had promised she could finish
school once they got there. She knew she’d be fine… her English was
perfect, Sister Aggie said so. She looked around… ah, there she
was. Deep in conversation with her mother. Well, if she would listen
to anyone, it would be Sister Aggie, and Laila knew she’d be doing her
best to see her favourite pupil in university. She sat back, suddenly
relieved again. Maybe it would be fine… it might not be America,
but it was still far away from here.
She looked around at the rest of the farewell party… her entire
class had come to wish them well, but the truth was they mostly hated
her. Except for Yasmeen and Bibi that is. Her best friends in the
whole world, and the only ones she felt at ease with. Everyone else
was either beneath her or a competitor. Jealous of her pale skin and
blonde hair, Laila knew she not only looked different, she thought
differently too. Not content to giggle and pout, Laila knew she was
prickly, and a little too proud. She didn’t care though, if truth be
told. She had a plan. University, then law school. Maybe she would
marry, but not till she was at least 35. After accepting her first
diplomatic posting of course. Despite herself, she laughed out loud.
She wasn’t sure what would shock her father more… but that was all
right, her mother (and Sister Aggie) were on her side.